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Kabul: A suicide car bomber struck at the gate of the Afghan intelligence service in the country's capital Wednesday, setting off a blast that could be heard throughout downtown and was followed by volleys of gunfire.

The Interior Ministry said three suicide bombers launched the attack on Afghanistan’s spy agency, killing two guards.

The explosion occurred about noon local time and sent a plume of smoke rising into the sky. The shooting had died down about 45 minutes later, but it was not clear if there were still attackers at large.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw at least 10 wounded people being taken away in ambulances. The windows of nearby shops were blown out and reporters could see the mangled wrecks of at least seven cars that had been caught up in the explosion.

An eyewitness who was wounded by flying glass, Mohammad Zia, said the bomb was in a car that drove up to the gate of the intelligence agency, called the National Directorate of Security, and then detonated.

The NDS compound is surrounded by tall, thick cement walls designed to protect buildings from bomb blasts.

An NDS agent at the scene who refused to give his name said the bomber had been targeting the agency. NDS agents rarely give their names to protect their identities.

A spokesman for the international military coalition in Afghanistan confirmed an explosion and small arms fire but did not provide further details. Maj. Martyn Crighton said that Afghan forces were responding to the attack and there was no involvement from the NATO military coalition.

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